A recent study suggests that enriching the diets of individuals battling cancer with nutritious food and beneficial bacteria may decelerate tumor growth. In an international trial, prostate cancer patients who received supplements experienced a slowdown in the progression of a key prostate cancer indicator in their blood. These patients were given a supplement rich in vegetables like broccoli, turmeric, pomegranate, green tea, ginger, and cranberry, resulting in improvements in urinary symptoms over a four-month period.
Additionally, the inclusion of a probiotic containing the bacteria Lactobacillus seemed to lower levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood, a marker for disease advancement. The study’s lead author, Professor Robert Thomas from the University of Bedfordshire, highlighted the significance of enhancing gut bacteria balance in potentially impeding prostate cancer activity and enhancing men’s health aspects such as inflammation, urinary symptoms, and physical strength.
Probiotics, live bacteria and yeasts touted for their health benefits, are commonly found in yogurts or taken as dietary supplements. They are recognized as “good” or “friendly” bacteria and are believed by the NHS to aid in restoring the natural bacterial equilibrium in the gut.
The microbiome, the collection of microorganisms in the stomach and intestines, can be disrupted by illness, medication, or a diet lacking in fresh, whole foods. These microorganisms are increasingly understood to play a crucial role in maintaining health and closely interact with the body, especially the immune system.
The trial, conducted by a team from the University of Bedfordshire in collaboration with experts from Cambridge University Hospitals, Bedford Hospital, and researchers from California and Perth, Australia, involved 212 men with low-risk prostate cancer. All participants were provided with a supplement rich in phytochemicals known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Half of the participants received a placebo, while the other half received the probiotic containing Lactobacillus.
Results showed a notable slowdown in PSA progression in both groups, with a more significant effect observed in the probiotic group. MRI scans were employed to monitor disease progression during the study period.
Published in the European Urology Oncology journal, the study concluded that of those receiving the supplement and placebo, 82% had stable disease, while 18% experienced disease progression. For those on the supplement and probiotic, 85.5% had stable disease, 6.7% showed disease regression, and 7.8% had disease progression.
Dr. Jeffrey Aldous, senior lecturer in exercise physiology at the University of Bedfordshire, emphasized the potential of targeted dietary approaches in positively influencing the gut microbiome to benefit cancer-related markers and overall well-being. Dr. Hayley Luxton, representing Prostate Cancer UK, expressed optimism about the study’s findings and the growing evidence on the impact of diet and gut health on prostate cancer progression, advocating for healthier dietary practices to potentially enhance outcomes for men’s health.